Classroom Instruction

All public school students deserve an education based on evidence, not the personal religious beliefs of school officials. Students should receive a sound schooling in topics such as evolution, climate change, history and sex education.

Religion can be discussed objectively during classroom instruction – such as by discussing its impact on history, art, music and literature, or by teaching a course on comparative religion – but public schools should not teach that one religion is true and other religions are false.

Students should be able to attend public schools without fear that they will be preached to or taught according to someone else’s faith.

Americans United works to protect students’ right to evidence-based curricula, not creationism or other religious teachings.

Religious freedom means students can attend public school without being forced to pray, pressured to adopt religious beliefs or encouraged to engage in religious activities. Students can pray, read the Bible and talk about their religion if they choose, but it must be student-led and initiated, voluntary and non-disruptive.